When the second annual Trenton Double-Cross Half-Marathon and 10K starts today, Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks will lead hundreds of members of their Black Girls Run organization onto a 13.1-mile course that crosses two bridges and meanders through the streets of this capital city.

The BGR runners will add 700 members to an event that totals about 3,000 entrants. Not bad for a couple of African American women who once endured the loneliness of the long distance black female runner.

After witnessing a minimal number of African American women running, plus, understanding that obesity represents a serious issue within that population, Carey and Ashley created an organization that swept across the United States.

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The BGR group now claims 60,000 members who add enthusiasm to most running events they attend.

“We wanted to show healthy living, and the importance of running in the African-American community,” Carey, one of the two co-founders said Thursday at the kickoff event at Trenton’s Rho Ristorante.

“We selected the city because it has a bad reputation. We want to show the nation that good things are happening in Trenton,” Ashley Hicks, the other co-founder said.

BGR is a for-profit, which started in 2009 after initially blogging about the lack of minorities that run. Ninety percent of its members are African Americans. It started out as small groups running in certain areas and has expanded with hundreds of runners throughout the U.S.

No fees are required for membership.

“We wanted people in our community to embrace being overweight,” Hicks, the other co-founder said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 80 percent of African-American women are overweight.

While running delivers a positive health component, having 3,000 runners in Trenton impacts the city’s economy.

Northward Councilwomen Marge Caldwell-Wilson has served as a liaison for the City of Trenton and Double-Cross efforts, worked directly with the organization.

“I’m grateful that a Thomas Edison State College impact study concluded that this event could provided $1.5 million in revenue during this weekend. Thomas Edison,” Caldwell-Wilson said.

Trenton Double-Cross Half-Marathon co-founder Chris Seiler said BGR members bring a special energy to this event.

“You certainly know that they are here. They add a special excitement to our event. We feel honored to have them involved with our event,” Seiler praised.

Carey and Hicks said their group also focuses

The group also focuses on hair products and nutrition.

BGR has received several awards and recognition from national publications, including Ebony magazine, Jet magazine, Essence magazine, and The Root.

“We all have obstacles to overcome. Our main goals are to encourage African-American women to run and take part in a healthy lifestyles,” Hicks said.